EVENTS

On obedience. Last week Sister Pat Farrell said what she thinks obedience is.

But the word obedience comes from the Latin root meaning to hear, to listen. And so as I have come to understand that vow, what it means to me is that we listen to what God is calling us to in the signs of our times.

The Home Ministry has banned the controversial book by liberal Muslim activist Irshad Manji as it could cause confusion among Muslims.

In a statement yesterday, Deputy Home Minister Datuk Abu Seman Yusop said the book Allah, Liberty and Love and its translated version Allah, Kebebasan dan Cinta was banned as it contradicted the Quran and Hadith.

The fact that a book “could cause confusion” is an imbecilic reason to ban it. The fact that it could cause confusion among a particular brand of theists is even more so. The fact that it contradicts the Quran and Hadith is an appalling reason to ban it. It represents obedience to arbitrary rules and demands written down many centuries ago in the guise of Roolz from Godd; not being allowed to contradict something so absurd at this late date is pathetic, tragic, horrible.

He said the decision was made following a report by the Islamic Religious Development Department (Jakim).

“Based on the report, it says that the book promotes mixed marriages between Muslims and non-Muslims. This could lead to pluralism.

“It also contains insulting elements towards the prophet, which were described in such a way that could pollute the sanctity of Islam.”

The deputy minister also said that the book defended secularism by confusing the Islamic faith.

Worse and worse and worse. Religious xenophobia and anti-pluralism; brainless worship of a long dead man; brainless worries about pollution and sanctity (cue Jonathan Haidt explaining why it’s not brainless at all, only different); anti-secularism and dogma preferred to putative “confusion” (which clearly means just dissent).

“The book also says the five fardhu prayers can be done in various movements and languages more than five times a day. This statement may confuse the public.”

He said the ban was made according to Section 7(1) of the Printing Presses and Publication Act 1984 as its content could cause disturbance to the public.

In a related development, Jawi enforcement division senior principal assistant director Wan Jaafar Wan Ahmad said they would monitor book stores to prevent them from distributing the books.